Metatitan
Extinct genus of brontothere
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Metatitan is an extinct genus of brontotheriid mammal from Eocene Mongolia.[1]
| Metatitan Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | †Brontotheriidae |
| Infratribe: | †Embolotheriita |
| Genus: | †Metatitan Granger and Gregory, 1943 |
| Species | |
| |
Description
Metatitan is known from cranial and mandibular remains. The genus has wide nasals and a small post-canine diastema. The canines of Metatitan are enlarged. They had nasal horns similar to other brontotheres, with the horns pointing forwards in all species. Uniquely, the horns of even the latest species are smaller in comparison to contemporary brontotheres.[2] The molars are elongate and crowned, whilst the incisors are small.[2][3] The incisor formula of Metatitan is closer to more basal brontotheres than more derived members of the clade.[2][3]
Classification
Metatitan is currently considered a relative of Gnathotitan and Embolotherium, and is suspected to have evolved from Rhinotitan.[4] Historically, it was suggested that Metatitan represents females of Embolotherium, as a form of sexual dimorphism, though this is not generally accepted.[2] A generic synonymy with Brachydiastematherium has also been proposed,[5] though later writings by the same authors contest this.[4]
